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Indicator 4.1.2.6

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes a fitness assessment of the fish prior to handling activities,7272An exemption applies to handling activities related to health examinations (e.g. health assessment, parasite counting) and in the case of emergencies (e.g. containment of an escape). approved by a registered veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional. For the specific handling activities listed below, the fitness assessment shall be carried out: – within a two-week period prior to transport or treatment that requires handling of the fish, except when the same type of treatment is repeated, in which case the assessment shall be carried out at least once a month after the initial treatment; – within a two-week period prior to net change and passive grading.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Fitness assessment may fall into two categories:

    • Single assessment: Performed within a two-week period prior to the handling.

    • Recurring assessment: Performed at least once a month in the case of serial, repeated treatments, e.g.:

    • Handling for administering multiple rounds of treatment to fish populations over a period of time, e.g.:

      • Bacterial infections, such as bacterial gill disease, furunculosis, or red spot diseases.

      • Fungal diseases, such as saprolegniasis.

      • Treatments for parasites control such as formalin treatments, hydrolysers or thermal delousing.

  • A successful fitness for handling record should demonstrate:

    • Fish free of diseases.

    • Minimal morphologic damage.

    • Normal behaviour.

    • Low mortality rate.

    • Usual feeding rates.

    • An example of a fitness for handling assessment record is provided in the Table 9 below.

Table 9: An example of a fitness for handling assessment record with information collated from assessments and routine data collected on the site.

Fitness assessment report

Handling activity to be carried out

Date handling expected to be carried out

Disease status comments

Mortality levels Low Consistent Increasing Other:

Feeding rate Normal Sluggish Very active Other:

Fish behaviour

Comments from last morphological checks

Fitness comments

Date: Approved by:

Position:

  • Handling in case of emergencies are exempt from requiring fish fitness assessments e.g.:

    • Containment of an escape.

    • Imminent risk of predation.

    • It is recommended to have a health representative verify the emergency operations together with written advice to support decision-making when handling is required in an emergency.

Evidence of Implementation

  • HMP includes consideration for fitness assessment prior to handling.

  • Fitness assessment report.

  • Records:

    • Veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional handling approval.

    • Documented reasons for exemptions with written advice.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Fitness assessments status before handling.

  • Implementation can be confirmed by cross-checking the frequency of fitness assessment and handling records, information from employee interviews and observations.

  • The rationale for any deviation from the frequency of fitness assessment before handling is in accordance with those highlighted by the indicator and respective footnotes.

Useful Resources

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Indicator 4.1.2.5

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP, following consultation with a registered veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional, considers the use of anaesthesia during handling activities.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • The use of anaesthesia is not required in every handling operation, but it should be considered in operations that can inflict pain, e.g.:

    • Inter-peritoneal vaccinations.

    • Stripping.

    • Handling operations that require fish immobilisation.

Evidence of Implementation

  • HMP includes consideration for the use of anaesthesia during handling.

  • List of handling operations requiring the use of anaesthesia.

  • List of licenced anaesthetics available on site.

  • Records:

    • Anaesthetic prescriptions.

    • Anaesthetic usage.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The HMP includes consideration of the use of anaesthetics during handling.

  • Implementation can be confirmed by cross-checking the HMP with records, information from employee interviews and observations.

Useful Resources

Indicator 4.1.2.4

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes consideration of the environmental conditions associated with handling activities, with the intent of preventing handling under adverse conditions that could affect the health and welfare of the fish.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Examples of considerations of external conditions:

    • Avoid mechanical treatments in the event of storms.

    • Avoid crowding fish for treatment without using a shade net on a sunny day.

  • Avoid transferring juveniles during period where there are less than favourable conditions:

    • Spring tides can result in stronger currents and rapid changes in water levels, juveniles may become disoriented or stressed potentially leading to injuries or escape.

      • Risk of entrapment and loss of equipment can be associated with spring tides.

Evidence of Implementation

  • HMP includes consideration for external conditions necessary to perform handling.

  • Records:

    • Weather forecast verification.

    • Employees should demonstrate knowledge of the considerations and the verification of external conditions before handling.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • HMP includes considerations for external conditions for handling and are implemented.

  • Implementation can be confirmed by cross-checking the HMP with records, information from employee interviews and observations.

Indicator 4.1.2.3

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes contingency plans for handling activities, including at least the following: a) immediate response measures in the case of system failure; and b) humane culling response measures (see Indicator 4.1.3.2); and c) mass mortality event response measures.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • The contingency plans should consider:

    • Identification of potential failures.

  • Effective corrective measures, e.g.:

    • Backup power generators.

    • Oxygen support.

Evidence of Implementation

  • HMP includes processes’ contingency plans.

  • Records:

    • Backup system testing.

    • Additional oxygen source available.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • HMP includes considerations on fish health and welfare before handling events, including considerations for the existence of a backup system.

    • Backup system testing records.

  • Presence of backup system.

  • Employees are familiarised with the contingency plans by conducting employee interviews and observations.

  • Records:

    • Backup system testing.

Useful Resources

1. Barathan, B., Wang, Y., Su, Y., Hamilton, D., et al., (2022). Methods to control harmful algal blooms: a review. Environmental Chemistry Letters.

2. FAO eLearning Academy (2024) Emergency preparedness for aquatic disease outbreaks. Online course

Indicator 4.1.1.28

Requirement

The UoC shall report to ASC mortality data of cleaner fish, according to ASC data submission procedures, and following the method outlined in Appendix 12 (12.5.1). Comment box In this first version of Principle 4 in the ASC Farm Standard, there is no requirement to develop a traffic light system (see indicator 4.1.1.10.5) or analyse trends to determine changes in health and welfare (see indicator 4.1.1.10.6) for cleaner fish. However, it is expected that going forward, all these requirements will also be included for cleaner fish.

Indicator 4.1.1.27

Requirement

The UoC shall calculate cleaner fish stocking densities in relation to salmon stocking, following the method outlined In Appendix 12 (12.5.4).

Indicator 4.1.1.26.5

Table 1. Requirements for Indicator 4.1.1.26.5

Indicator

Requirement

4.1.1.26.5

The UoC shall ensure the HWMP includes a mortality reduction plan which defines annual targets for both total and unexplained mortalities and shall implement appropriate actions to meet the annual targets. **


How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

Indicator 4.1.1.26.4

Table 1. Requirements for Indicator 4.1.1.26.4

Indicator

Requirement

4.1.1.26.4

The UoC shall ensure the HWMP includes a mortality monitoring process which includes at least the following: a) daily monitoring and recording of mortalities; and b) removal of mortalities at least every second day; and, c) classification of all recovered mortalities and conducting a post-mortem analysis for each mortality event; and d) investigation of mortality events which remain unexplained or unattributed to fish health reasons; and e) daily collection of moribund fish and culling according to Criterion 4.1.3. Where any of the listed items above are not possible, the UoC shall record the reason. **


How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

Indicator 4.1.1.26.3

Table 1. Requirements for Indicator 4.1.1.26.3

Indicator

Requirement

4.1.1.26.3

The UoC shall ensure the HWMP includes a feeding behaviour scoring monitoring process for live cleaner fish. Monitoring shall be conducted weekly. An exception applies where deviation from weekly monitoring is justified under environmental conditions that affect the welfare of the cleaner fish or the health and safety of employees. The reason for any deviation shall be recorded. **


How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

Indicator 4.1.1.26.2

Table 1. Requirements for Indicator 4.1.1.26.2

Indicator

Requirement

4.1.1.26.2

The UoC shall ensure the HWMP includes a morphological scoring monitoring process for live cleaner fish. Monitoring shall be conducted at least once every three months, and shall include at least the following scoring parameters: – eye damage – operculum damage – skin damage – fin damage – deformities – change of colouration – emaciation An exception applies where deviation from monitoring frequency is justified by any of the following reasons: – immediately after stocking; or – under environmental conditions that affect the welfare of the cleaner fish or the health and safety of employees; or – cleaner fish are undergoing a disease event and/or being treated. The reason for any deviation shall be recorded.


How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

Useful Resources